Many people in Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean only speak French. It's also important to note they speak French with an ''accent'' that might sound strange, even for other people from Québec. If you only speak English, you might encounter problems as you visit this area. Otherwise, most of this is true: [[Quebec#Talk]]

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Many people in Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean speak only French; it is the region with the smallest proportion English speakers in Quebec. It is also important to note they speak French with an ''accent'' that might sound strange, even for other people from Québec. If you speak only English, you might encounter problems as you visit this area. Otherwise, most of this is true: [[Quebec#Talk]]

=== Expressions ===

=== Expressions ===

It's well known around Québec that people from the area use expressions you might not have heard before. Here is a few of them (in French, naturally.)

It's well known around Québec that people from the area use expressions you might not have heard before. Here is a few of them (in French, naturally.)

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* ''Cotteur'' - Possibly from the English "cutter"? Concrete demarcation between asphalted and non-asphalted land.

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* ''Cotteur'' - Possibly a simplification of the French word "accotement", equivalent in English to "curb", a concrete demarcation between asphalted and non-asphalted land.

You're most likely to arrive to Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean by land. If you're coming from [[Quebec City]], you will cross the ''Parc des Laurentides'' on provincial road 175. This road is about 200 km long between Québec City and Chicoutimi and there is but one gas station (known as ''l'Étape'') in the middle so plan ahead. It is also one of the most dangerous roads you can imagine. A high proportion of heavy trucks on a small 2 ways mountain road. Most drivers drive over the speed limit at about 120 kph (75 mph) and expect others to do so. Only extremely confident drivers are advised to take that road by themselves, as deadly face-offs around corners. And that without counting the animals!

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You're most likely to arrive to Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean by land. If you're coming from [[Quebec City]], you will cross the ''Parc des Laurentides'' on provincial road 175. This road is about 200 km long between Québec City and Chicoutimi and there is but one gas station (known as ''l'Étape'') in the middle so plan ahead. It is also a great paronamic view of the deep Quebec Forest.

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If you come from Chibougamau-Chapais or Abitibi-Témiscamingue, you will arrive by road.

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If you come from Chibougameau-Chapais or Abitibi-Témiscamingue, you will arrive by road.

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There are also a few airports in the area. None of them are international airports, but if you're coming from somewhere else in Canada, you might arrive at one of them. The main one is Bagotville in Ville de La Baie (now part of Ville Saguenay). There is also one in St-Honoré-de-Chicoutimi.

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There is also a few airports in the area. None of them are international airports, but if you're coming from somewhere else in Canada, you might arrive at one of them. The main one is Bagotville in Ville de La Baie (now part of Ville Saguenay). There is also one in St-Honoré-de-Chicoutimi.

* Snowmobile - There are miles and miles of path across the region. Most of them will require a special membership card to use (''I think'').

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* Snowmobile - There are miles and miles of path across the region. Most of them will require a special membership card to use.

* Snowshoeing

* Snowshoeing

Line 85:

Line 92:

If you visit the area, try to find a place where you can eat some ''Tourtière'' (a sort of meat pie.) The ''tourtière'' in Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean is a different meal that in other regions of Québec.

If you visit the area, try to find a place where you can eat some ''Tourtière'' (a sort of meat pie.) The ''tourtière'' in Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean is a different meal that in other regions of Québec.

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Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean is known for its blueberries. Make sure you try a blueberry pie or some blueberry chocolate candies from ''Les pères trappistes''.

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Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean is known for its '''blueberries'''. Make sure you try a blueberry pie or some chocolate covered blueberries (available in August only) from ''Les pères trappistes''.

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==Drink==

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==Drink==

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Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean is renowned for its party-loving population. They take great pride in drinking "grosse bière" (litterally "big beer", meaning most of them drink bottles of beer of around 700 mL in bars), arrive early and leave late. The title of main street of drinking is usually given to rue Saint-Dominique, in Jonquière, where you will find 6 or 7 bars on a less than a kilometre stretch.

Talk

Many people in Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean speak only French; it is the region with the smallest proportion English speakers in Quebec. It is also important to note they speak French with an accent that might sound strange, even for other people from Québec. If you speak only English, you might encounter problems as you visit this area. Otherwise, most of this is true: Quebec#Talk

Expressions

It's well known around Québec that people from the area use expressions you might not have heard before. Here is a few of them (in French, naturally.)

Cotteur - Possibly a simplification of the French word "accotement", equivalent in English to "curb", a concrete demarcation between asphalted and non-asphalted land.

Get in

You're most likely to arrive to Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean by land. If you're coming from Quebec City, you will cross the Parc des Laurentides on provincial road 175. This road is about 200 km long between Québec City and Chicoutimi and there is but one gas station (known as l'Étape) in the middle so plan ahead. It is also a great paronamic view of the deep Quebec Forest.
If you come from Chibougamau-Chapais or Abitibi-Témiscamingue, you will arrive by road.

There are also a few airports in the area. None of them are international airports, but if you're coming from somewhere else in Canada, you might arrive at one of them. The main one is Bagotville in Ville de La Baie (now part of Ville Saguenay). There is also one in St-Honoré-de-Chicoutimi.

Get around

A car will be required to drive around the area. Some cities in the area have bus systems, but most of them don't.

Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean has a big territory so be ready to drive long distances.

See

Les Saguenéens de Chicoutimi - The local hockey team on the Ligue de Hockey Junior-Majeur du Québec. They play at Centre George-Vézina. - http://www.sagueneens.com/

Do

Here are a few things you might want to do. Please fill free to describe them or to add more activities or places to visit.

Things To Do

Camping - There are many beautiful camping sites located directly on the Lac St-Jean.

Fishing - There are many lakes in the region and fishing is allowed on most of them during the appropriate season. Make sure you get the proper license and equipment.

Fishing on ice - During winter, you can fish on ice on the Saguenay river. The main site is at St-Fulgence.

Hunting - There are many ZEC (Zone d'Exploitation Contrôlée or, in English, Controlled Exploitation Area) on which hunting is allowed if you get the proper licenses.

Skiing - There are many ski hills in the Saguenay region. Look for Le Valinouet, Mont Édouard, Mont Lac-Vert, Mont Fortin, Mont Bélu and many more.

Snowmobile - There are miles and miles of path across the region. Most of them will require a special membership card to use.

Snowshoeing

Eat

If you visit the area, try to find a place where you can eat some Tourtière (a sort of meat pie.) The tourtière in Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean is a different meal that in other regions of Québec.

Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean is known for its blueberries. Make sure you try a blueberry pie or some chocolate covered blueberries (available in August only) from Les pères trappistes.

Drink

Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean is renowned for its party-loving population. They take great pride in drinking "grosse bière" (litterally "big beer", meaning most of them drink bottles of beer of around 700 mL in bars), arrive early and leave late. The title of main street of drinking is usually given to rue Saint-Dominique, in Jonquière, where you will find 6 or 7 bars on a less than a kilometre stretch.